Apparatus for transmitting electric power and data in motor vehicles

Abstract

In an apparatus for transmitting electric power and data between the vehicle side and the steering wheel side of a motor vehicle, a transformer is used, which comprises a stationary primary coil on the vehicle side and a secondary coil, which is provided on the steering wheel side and is non-rotatably connected to the steering shaft. Data are transmitted by a capacitor, which comprises stationary conductor strips which are provided on the vehicle side and surround the steering column and conductor strips which are provided on the steering wheel side and register with the stationary conductor strips and surround and are non-rotatably connected to the steering shaft.

We claim: 
     
       1. In an apparatus for transmitting electric power and data between the vehicle side and the steering wheel side of a motor vehicle by means of a bipartite transformer, which is coaxial to a steering shaft and comprises a stationary first and second shell cores, which is provided on a vehicle core and surrounds a steering column and is U-shaped in section and extends around a primary coil, and first and second shell cores, which are U-shaped in section and are provided on the steering wheel side and surrounds and is non-rotatably connected to the steering shaft and extends around a secondary coil, an air gap being provided between said shell cores, the improvement which comprises a capacitor coaxial to the bipartite transformer and comprising stationary conductor strips (12, 13, 15, 16), which are provided on the vehicle side and surround the steering column, and conductor strips (12', 13', 15', 16'), which are provided on the steering wheel side and define an air gap with said stationary conductor strips and said stationary conductor strips surround the steering shaft and are non-rotatably connected to the steering shaft (3), the air gap between the shell cores (5,8) of the capacitors having a width of 0.3 to 1 mm, the air gap between at least two said conductor strips (12, 12', 13, 13', 15, 15', 16, 16') of the capacitors having a width of 0.2 to 0.5 mm, the conductor strips (12, 12', 13' 13') being concentrically arranged cylindrical sleeves or the conductor strips (15, 15', 16, 16') comprising annular disks arranged in a row, the capacitor comprising at least four conductor strips (12, 12', 13, 13', 15, 15', 16, 16') which are arranged in pairs of registering strips, the capacitor comprising sleeves which surround the transformer, the shell cores (5,8) comprising ferrite, and the transformer and the capacitor being provided with shielding means made of steel.